Refrigerator cabinet



Dec. 21, 1954".,

Filed Sept. 20, i941 Inventor William Pau Dodge,

HIS AttOTYney.

Patented Dec. 21, 1943 2,337,316 A REFRIGERATOR CABINET William Paul Dodge,

Erie, Pa., assignor toGeneral Electric Company, a. corporation of New York Application September 20, 1941, Serial No.

Claims.

My `invention relates to refrigerators and more particularly to sealing means adapted for use in refrigerator cabinets.

The objects and advantages of my invention vwill become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features 'of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l'is a Aperspective view of a portion of a refrigerator cabinet embodying the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig.y 1, partly broken away, of a portion of the refrigerator cabinet shown in Fig. 1;*Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional ber or gasket and trim strip shown in Fig. 2; and Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a refrigerator cabinet i0 of the domestic type. The cabinet includes an outer sheet metal casing or shell I| having an opening I2 in the top wall thereof. The refrigerator cabinet is provided with an open' top inner liner I3 deningthe bottom and side Walls cf a storage compartment I 4, An access opening in the front wall of the cabinet is closed by a suitable heat insulated door |5. vThe space between/the liners or casings and I3 is lled with suitable heat insulation as indicated by the numeral I6 and the space between the edges of the liners or casings is closed by suitable thermally resistant breaker strips Il. Theupper portion of the thermal insulation I6 surrounding the opening in the top of the cabinet may be covered by a moistureproofed cloth band I8 in order to retard absorption of moisture by the insulating material.

The food storage compartment I4 is designed to be cooled by a cooling element k|411 inserted through the opening in the top wall of the' cabinet. A sheet metal cover member I9 is provided to cover and enclose the cooling unit and heat insulating material |6a disposed between the top cover and the cooling unit. The cover |9 is provided with a downwardly extending peripheral flange 2D having an inturned portion 2| at the marginal edgeV thereof. I

I have provided means for sealing the space between the ange 2| of the top cover and an inturned ilange 22 of the outercasing II in order to minimize furthel` the entry of moisture into the heat insulation. This means takes the form (Cl. 22o-46) of a gasket 23 of resilient material such as rubber havinga hollow striking bead 24. In order to retain or secure the gasket to the flange 2|, `I have provided a lip 26attached to the upper face of the gasket and which extends substantially parallel thereto, thereby providing a recess for receiving the inturned portion 2| of the cover I9. The bead 24 and lip 26 are preferably constructed and arranged for retention by the flange 2 I. For instance, the lip 2B may be lanced periodically at the junction of the lip 26 and thehollow bead 24 to receive keystone. shaped projections blanked into the Aedge of the flange 2|. On the under side of the bead `24 I have provided a pair of spaced-apart.longitudinally extending projecting portions or rib`s21 and 28, preferably integral with the gasket striking bead 24 adjacent the -inner and outer sides or edges of the gasket respectively. The innermost fin or rib 21 is made relatively thicker and relatively longer than the outermost fin or rib 28.

Inl order to cover up and conceal the space` between the top cover |9 and the top of the cabinet, thereby enhancing the appearance o f the cabinet, there is provided a. decorative trim strip 29 having a generally verticallyextending portion 30 and a generally horizontally and inward-f ly extending portion 3|. The laterallyor inwardly extending portion 3| is arranged to be inserted between they striking bead 24 and the flange 22. The portion3| does not reach the rib thereof is engaged by made long enough and stiff enough to .support the weight of the cover when placed on the cabinet so that the trim strip may be slid freely under the gasket and rib 28 as shown in Fig. 3.

There is provided means for securing the cover in place comprising at the front edge of the cover one or more members 32 suitably secured as by welding at one end'to the flange 22 and engaging at theother end the rib 26 of the gasket. The rear edge of the cover is held in place by bracket members 33 suitably secured as by means of threaded fastening members 34 engaging correspondingly threaded nuts 35 secured to the inner surfaces of the cover and outer casing respectively as by welding for example. The fastening devices 'and the gasket are so proportioned that when the cover is secured in position, the gasket will be compressed as shown in Fig. 2, to seal the space between the cover and the refrigerator cabinet. With the arrangement herein described, the sealing function will be performed by the sealing n or rib 2l.\ The rib 28 which may be assure termed a "locking iin or "rib" will engage the upper surface of the trim strip and tend frictionally to retain the strip in position.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs.

2' and 3 the laterally extending portion 3l of tlfie` y tion 36 ,orfis made generally convex Vupwardly in such a manner that the lockngiin 28 will engage the corrugation or convex portion outwardlyof the highest point thereof. When the cover is drawn down to the compressed position shown Ain Fig. 2, the force applied to theysloping portion 36 of the trim` strip through the rib 28 Will tend to cause or urge `the-generally vertical portion of i the trim strip to, be moved, ,to w ard thecabinetI y rinto close engagement therewith. If desired, the

rib 28 need not engage the portion 36 but may engage the portion 3,I,of the strip between ,the vertical portion of the stripand the portion 36.

" In Figs. 4 and v,5,"1 have 'illustratedajsecond `embodiment of `my invention infwhichthe trim strip 29 does not have theupstanding ridge or portion 36 but in which thegenerally horizontal portion of the strip is substantially' iiatfThe sides of the trim strip 2S in' this*` embodiment of myvfinvention maybe atrighta'ngle's but arepre'ferably disposed'a lfew degrees less'thanaV right Y"angle for the purpose toy be described.v jDuring assembly ofthe gasket, cover and trim strip, the trim strip 29a will be inserted betweenthe gasket and the cabinet by movingv thesam'e inwardly with the generally Verticalfportion substantially vertical so that thehorizontalleg .will be in sub'' stantially the position shown in Fig. r5. VIn this position, when .thef cover is'forced downwardly,

'thereby tending kto compress the gaskets; it will be apparent that the locking finu28 will engage the upper surface ofthe generallyvhorizontal portion of the strip 29a and' tend to force'downwardly thatjportion. Inasmu'ch asdrelatively l stift resilient-material is employed iorthe strip,

it will be fapparentf that the force applied in this mannerwillftend to rock the generally vertical portion in aclockwise direction'as viewed in the drawing, thereby insuring that the upperedge ofr i the strip will rmlyfengage' `the side vwall of the cover.- l f, ,1; The material from which the 'trim strips are l made may besufciently lightvto permit slight Y bending thereofv in order 'to cause the generallyy verticalportion'of the trim strip to move more easily into engagement with'the side of the cover.' However, it will be understood ,that material stii!` v enough to resist bending underuthe 1 relatively light pressures developed 1n assembling thecove'r` l may be employed, ifdesired, the locking or outer rib'or fin 28 providing suilicient Ifriction to prevent ready withdrawalof the trim stpor move` ment thereof caused by vibration of the cabinet or movement'thereof by some other cause, 'as

during delivery or transportation of the cabinet.`

While I have shown a particular embodiment of 'my invention, I do not desiremy invention-to be limited to the 4particular construction shown rand described andI I intend inv lthe appended', claims'tocover all modifications within Ythe spirit and scope 'of my invention.

What I` claim as vnew fand .desire` to vsecure .by`

Letters Patent of the United States, is: L

1. Sealing means iorlseaiing thejopening be-` tween two members vcomprisingmeans for se-f curing the sealing means toone joi' said members.'

the surface of said sealing means presented to the other of said members having two ,longitudi- ,nally extending spacedLapart projecting portions,` l a trim stripfor concealing the opening between :Shaving an lopeningin4 a Wallthereof, a cover* r member for closing the opening and spaced from said body member', a resilient gasket carried by one of saidwmembers and arranged to extend about the opening-in engagement with both said members for sealing the opening in said body member and for closing, thespace between'said members, a trim Vstrip` having a.` face portion extending across the space, between saldi-members outwardly of said. gasket for concealing said gasket and having an inwardly extending peripheral' portion linserted.between said-gasket and `the other of said memberssaid gasket being provided Vwith a sealing rib engaging said othermember and a lockingr rib engaging said trim strip, said ribskr extending longitudinally of i said gasket around the opening, said inwardly. extending porv tion of saidY trim strip being generally convex in l cross section on .its side adjacent said gasket for continuous longitudinal engagement with said locking rib, said looking ribengaging said trim strip along the convex side of saidinwardly extending portion-andvoutwardly `of .the highest point thereof wherebyzsaid trim strip is retained in position. v g1 3. In a refrigerator, av cabinetbody member., 4Q having an opening ina wall thereof, af cover member forclosing the opening and spaced from Y said'body member, a vresilient gasket carried by oneof fsaid members and Yarranged to extend about'` the openingin` engagement with both said members fo'rfsealing the opening in said body,

'59 ketia'nd having an inwardly extendingl peripheral portion inserted.. between said gasketand the other of said members, said gasket being provided with a sealing rib engaging saidk otherY member andja locking rib engaging said. trim 'strip, said ribs extending longitudin'ally'of 1said V,gasket around the opening, said sealing rib being longer and stiffer than said locking rib in order to'supportsaid cover memberwhen laid on the 'i cabinet, said inwardly extending portion of said trim strip having a'portion extending toward said gasketand into frictional engagement with said locking' rib,` whereby said trimstrip may be slid relativelyfreely betweensaid `gasket and said y other of said members,

o5. 4, In va, refrigerator; arcabinet vbody member having an opening 1n a wall thereof, a cover member forv closingthe opening and spaced from saidgbodyy member, a resilient gasket carried by,

one of saidmembers and arranged to extend "l0-.about thel ,opening in engagementV with both said members for sealing the opening in saidA body member andfor closing. the space getween said members, a trim 'strip havinga face portion extending across. the space between, said members 75v outwardly of said gasket for concealing said gasket and having an inwardly extending peripheral portion inserted between said gasket and the other of said members, said gasket being provided with a sealing rib engaging said other member and a locking rib engaging said trim strip, said ribs extending longitudinally of said gasket around the opening, said sealing rib being longer and stiffer than said locking rib in order to support said cover member when laid on the cabinet, said inwardly extending portion of said trim strip having a raised portion facing toward said gasket means and in frictional engagement with said looking rib, said locking rib engaging said raised portion of said inwardly extending portion on the outer side thereof in order to retain said strip in its assembled position, whereby said trim strip may be slid relatively freely between said gasket and said other of said members.

5. In a refrigerator, a cabinet body member having an opening in a wall thereof, a cover member for closing the opening and spaced from said body member, a gasket carried by one of said members and arranged to extent about the opening in engagement with both said members for sealing the opening in said body member and for closing the space between said members, a trim strip having a face portion extending across the space between said members outwardly of said gasket for concealing said gasket and having an inwardly extending peripheral portion inserted between said gasket and the other of said members and having a raised portion facing toward said gasket, said gasket being provided with a pair of ribs extending longitudinally about the opening, one of said ribs engaging said other of said members for sealing said opening and the other of said ribs frictionally engaging the raised portion of said inwardly extending portion of said trim strip on the outer side thereof for retaining said strip in position between said members.

WILLIAM PAUL DODGE. 

